This accessible reference work provides the essential facts and figures about all major aspects of modern Irish history, from the passing of the Act of Union to the premiership of Bertie Ahern and post-Good Friday Agreement Northern Ireland. #xA0; This comprehensive guide to modern Irish history includes: #xA0; #xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0; detailed political information, including parties, politicians and elections #xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0; a wealth of material on population, education, social structure and religion #xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0; economic statistics covering agriculture, trade, prices and wages, transport, unemployment and landownership #xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0; sections on Irish women's history, treaties, law and communications #xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0;#xA0; a full chronology, a glossary of terms and biographical information #xA0; The Handbook is an invaluable resource for students, researchers, journalists, civil servants and the general reader. #xA0; #xA0; #xA0; N. C. Flemingis Lecturer in Modern History at the Queen's University of Belfast. He is author of The Marquess of Londonderry: Aristocracy, Power and Politics in Britain and Ireland(2005). #xA0; Alan O#xBF;Dayis Fellow in Modern History at Greyfriars, University of Oxford. He is author of The English Face of Irish Nationalism(1977, 1994), Parnell and the First Home Rule Episode(1986) and Irish Home Rule, 1867#xBF;1921 (1998).